Denuclearisation in North Korea (NK) should be the key to restoring peace and stability in the Korean peninsula. This would be the main agenda of the forthcoming talks between the US president and Pyongyang’s supreme leader is likely to be held soon. Because, the main concern of the international community is North Korea’s proliferation of nuclear weapons, which is a big threat to the region and the whole world as well.

As part of the ‘maximum pressure’ campaign, the UN Security Council (UNSC) sanctions to regulate the ban on the export of North Korea’s natural resources such as coal and iron ore have contributed to that country’s further nuclear and missile tests.

The current attitude of North Korea is really a threat to the Korean peninsula as well as the whole world as they have biological and chemical weapons in addition to their nuclear arsenal.

The North Korean people need humanitarian and food assistance for their survival as most of them are suffering from various health issues and food crisis.

But the Korean leader doesn’t bother about his people. He is strengthening the stockpile of nuclear weapons and destroying his country’s economy.

Both North and South Korean people share the same language and culture. But whereas North Korea is facing various problems, South Korea has become an economically influential country.

When visiting Seoul, the people of  Seoul informed this writer that they were living under the constant fear of a nuclear strike by North Korea.

North Korea continues to launch its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), which creates tension among neighbouring countries.

At the same time, the South Korean government is trying for the unification of the two Korean nations and the process is going on. With the help of the US, they will be able to resolve ongoing tension in the Korean peninsula in a peaceful manner, they believed.

The South Korean people said that the young people of their country have no concern over this, but senior citizens want unification. And that’s why the authorities concerned of the South Korean government are trying to create awareness among the youths on the matter.

As of early 2019, North Korea has a number of nuclear weapons and sufficient fissile materials. It has also stockpiled a significant quantity of chemical and biological weapons.

Since 2006, North Korea has been conducting a series of nuclear tests with increasing levels of expertise.

Supporting the US stand, Bangladesh has expressed hope that the US and North Korea would sit for talks to expedite the process of denuclearisation.

Talking to this writer, Foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said that Bangladesh believes in complete and general disarmament and this is the country’s principle. “But the ongoing activities of North Korea are against our principle and also against civilisation, development and human welfare,” he said.

“Yes, we want peaceful use of nuclear technology like power plant and medicine,” he added.

Bangladesh has already become a member of other global anti-nuclear instruments after ratifying the ‘Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons’ on September 29, 2019. The treaty will come into force upon submission of the 50th ratification though it has been ratified by 32 countries so far.

About the Security Council resolution to repatriate all North Korean workers from various countries by the last week of December, the foreign minister said, “As a member state, Bangladesh is responsible to implement the Dec 22, 2017 security council resolution.”

During her visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum on December 1, 2010, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had urged the world community to unite to build a nuclear weapon-free world and establish peace. The PM had said Bangladesh was always ready to work to reduce nuclear stockpiles, within respective regions, aiming ultimately for a denuclearised world.

On September 27, 2013, Bangladesh had signed the ‘Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and a protocol on the Convention of Chemical Weapons’ at the UN headquarters, aiming to build a nuclear weapons-free world.  

The writer is a Special Correspondent of The Independent. He can be reached at [email protected]